Patch 4.1 has been on the servers for barely 48 hours now and we're already getting previews of upcoming 4.2 content! Are you guys ready? Blizzard CMs have been actively posting on the forums, handling the always expected barrage of unnecessary 4.1 backlash as well as addressing issues that players are having. Today's topics include:

Assorted Undocumented Changes

Many previously faction-specific Cooking recipes (such as Kaldorei Spider Kabob) which were removed with Cataclysm are now trainable from both Horde and Alliance Cooking trainers!

Argent Dawn reputation quest items such as Savage Frond and Crypt Fiend Parts are now poor quality (as they have not had a purpose for quite some time).

Reasoning Behind Changes to Conquest Points

Zarhym

Why does Blizzard repeatedly short-change the pvp community in favor of PVE? I am speaking of two things, the conquest point awards being changed and the ability to convert valor points to conquest.

Changing the amount of points awarded for a win was a simply horrible idea, as you can see by the outcry on these forums, arenajunkies, etc. NO ONE likes this idea. For those of us with multiple alts, it will take hours upon hours each week to simply reach point cap. Some of us have lives, jobs, and responsibilities that prevent us from playing WoW 20+ hours a week.We saw that Arenas and Rated Battlegrounds were over-rewarding players for the time investment required, particularly compared to point gains in PvE. We felt the change we went live with in the patch was a little bit too low and overcompensating though, so we buffed up the numbers for wins just a bit to 180 (Arenas) and 400 (Rated BGs).

In addition, this change being implemented without it being in the patch notes is simply underhanded. I am sorry, but I don't buy the "it was an honest mistake" excuse that is being tossed around by Bashiok and others. Blizzard has been revising these patch notes for months now; it's obvious that it was simply omitted due to the outrage it would cause.

I'm the one compiling and revising those notes. I scrutinize the patch notes beyond what is probably conducive to my own mental health. I push to make sure I'm getting every single note I can, and that each note is sufficiently detailed and concise. If I had known about this change, it would have been in the patch notes. Just the same, the developers did not withhold this change from me so it wouldn't make it in the patch notes.

There are a lot of developers and they're very busy working on future content. On infrequent occasions a change falls through the cracks and is not properly reported to my team for documentation in the patch notes. That's our fault and something we're working to prevent each and every patch cycle by developing new ways of generating the patch notes.

Let the implication that we intentionally misdirect and lie to you go. It's not true and I personally can't stand it when I see a big change like this not make it into the notes I work for months to finalize.

Patch 4.2 Previews Coming Soon!

Bashiok

As we explained early in the 4.1 PTR process, the next tier of raid content -- as well as other key features including new daily quest hubs -- were being developed exclusively for patch 4.2 . We also explained that 4.2, although a completely separate patch, was being developed at the same time as 4.1 so that it could be released on a much quicker timetable.

Here we are, a few days after the release of patch 4.1, and we’re ready to begin revealing 4.2, its features, and major content.

Be sure to refresh http://www.worldofwarcraft.com throughout the following days, as the articles will be going out at super-secret (but reasonable) times. You’ll certainly want to be funky fresh and the first on your Twitterbook acquaintance list to rap the 4-1-1 on these stories as they drizop.

We have these and other previews planned, as well as the full PTR announcement and notes, in the coming weeks and months ahead. Stay tuned!

Legendary Staff to Feature Glitter and Puffy Paint

Daxxarri

Is it Atiesh? I bet it's Atiesh. You can just tell that they're going to name it Atiesh.

It's not Atiesh.

It also doesn't look anything like that.

Riiiiiight.

So, then. What is that staff if not the Legendary one?What is that staff? It's data mined.

It's not nearly fancy enough, imo.

If you're going to be like that, then the "real" legendary staff had better be at least ten times fancier.

Alas, fanciness is a highly subjective trait. I assure that, according to my perception, it is at least 78.7% fancier.

Not acceptable. 100% fancier or nothing.

You are reckless! This could take us into macaroni and glitter territory.

A desert of sequins. A puffy paint wasteland.

*shudder*

Glow-in-the-dark puffy paint.

Turn back now, before it's too late.

That's really exciting. I thought the datamined one looked cool so if it's 78.7% more fancier then wow.

Give or take .3%, yeah.

New Lore: Vol'jin Story Available!

Blizzard Entertainment

Led by the wise Sen'jin, the Darkspear tribe of jungle trolls has endured much. Driven from their ancestral home when the Gurubashi empire's tribal hatreds erupted into open warfare, the Darkspears eventually claimed an uninhabited island for themselves and renamed it the Darkspear Island. But although the Darkspears hoped that this new home would be permanent, the fate of the tribe would prove to be far from certain.

"They say the loa gonna take our minds," Zalazane said grimly. "They gonna warp us and twist us around and make us see visions."

"Many tests, I hear. If they find me worthy, I be a shadow hunter," Vol'jin answered. "If they find me unworthy… nothing can save us."

"Oh, they gonna be impressed with me." Zalazane smiled knowingly. "But they gonna laugh at you." He stepped into the mud and ambled over to stand beside his friend. They looked at each other for a moment and broke into wide grins, tusks bared. Throughout their entire childhood in the Darkspear village, this had always been a sure sign that Vol'jin and Zalazane were about to do something particularly stupid.

With a mighty cry, they ran headlong into First Home.

Blizzard Entertainment is proud to present the latest entry in the Leaders of Azeroth short story series: The Judgment!

Upcoming Bugfixes: Horse Animation, Spell Pushback

Kaivax

I log in today and notice that some of my favorite mounts (Forsaken Warhorses, Argent Warhorse, etc) now run identical to the way Talbuk's run. This running animation isn't natural and is the sole reason I never ride the Talbuk mounts.

The change in movement of the rider on some mounts is the result of a bug introduced with 4.1.

It will be fixed in a future patch.

Kaivax

The spell push back levels after patch are significantly greater now then they were before patch. No where in the patch notes is it indicated that push back would be increased.

Please note that this is the result of a bug that has been identified and is being hotfixed.

Comments

Comment by Adamsm

Really looking forward to seeing how Fandral ends up all flamly...and able to turn into a Firecat!

Also...aw Blizzard, you gave the new phoenixes proto-drake movements?

Comment by Cordana

on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 23:23:48 -0500

I'm liking the portals back in Shatt... I've also noticed that my vanity pet actually stays out now which is nice. I'm not mounting and resummoning, entering a portal and resummoning, zoning into a BG and resummoning... you get the picture. Nice work on this. I even forget the little critter's out sometimes. Despite the problems... /loving 4.1!

Comment by atomicwolf22

on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 23:51:23 -0500

Hmm cool I wonder how many hotfixes are going to happen here in the next for days/weeks.

Also I wonder how long it takes Kitty Driuds and Rogue's to forget about there Mini Pet being out and them being killed because there able to be found.

Comment by soccergenius

on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 00:12:11 -0500

I dunno how important it is, but I was pleased to find another undocumented change specific for prot pallies: having Shield of the Righteous dodged/parried/missed no longer consumes .

Comment by atomicwolf22

on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 00:31:35 -0500

I dunno how important it is, but I was pleased to find another undocumented change specific for prot pallies: having Shield of the Righteous dodged/parried/missed no longer consumes .

Thats nice more threat. Ugh and I really hate it when crap missed. Got to love the AS miss as you see the shield go flying off to the great unknown.

Comment by Squishalot

on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 00:38:31 -0500

Portals are back in Dal / Shat? /magerage

1

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